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Introduction: The
condition of the mouth and teeth is an inseparable part of the whole
health condition of any individual. Habits, attitudes and behavior
regarding the health of the mouth and teeth begin to form
very early, during the primary socialization and because of that the
family plays very important role in it.
Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the correlation of
oral hygiene habits with occurrence of changes in condition of mouth and
teeth in school children in Montenegro.
Material and methods: The research was designed as a
cross-sectional study using the interview method adapted for
epidemiological field research. Interview survey was used as a research
instrument while the data on oral health of the examined children were
obtained from regular dental check-ups of school children using WHO
methodology .
Results: The condition of the mouth and teeth of surveyed
children is in correlation with their health habits, attitudes and
behavior: the presence of risk factors for occurrence of oral disease in
high percentage is expected due to their health habits, attitudes and
behavior. Risk of occurrence of oral diseases is expected because the
children do not have formed basic health habits and attitudes which are
the basis for oral health.
Conclusion: The children do not have formed positive health
habits:
- More than 50% of the surveyed children have not practiced regular oral
hygiene and those who have done that because they were „forced“ by their
parents;
- The children are in favour of food rich in carbon-hydrates, especially
sweets and sugar, which they consume very often usually between the
meals and afterwards they do not practice good oral hygiene;
- Every other child has already had an orthodontic abnormality and
diagnosed gingivitis;
- The number of milk teeth affected by caries is between 2 and 8 while
that number for permanent teeth is between 1 and 4 per a child in the
first grade. As they grow older the number of permanent teeth affected
by caries also grows.
Key words: oral hygiene, caries, health habits
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